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The Bookshelf

Written similar to the way he talks in that it jumps around and covers a wide breadth of topics. But every page has nuggets of gold. His factor analysis for security problems is still the best starting point.

It’s the mid eighties and recycled astronomer, Cliff Stoll, discovers a hacker in the Berkeley computer lab after being asked to investigate a seventy-five cent accounting error. No one is interested despite the hacker using the lab’s network to break into military computers. Cliff stays on the trail, initially more out of curiosity, but eventually due to the realization that computer security is non-existent on the Internet’s predecessor. Drugs, the KGB, the US military, college drop-outs, Berkeley politics and a dozen TLA agencies make up a color cast of characters. Read why the more computer security changes, the more users stay the same.

A sobering and eye-opening read. Given all the “feel good vibes” Internet evangelists dominate the airwaves and blogesphere with, an alternative and arguably more realistic view of recent history (e.g., the Green Revolution in Iran) and the roll of technology, is an important read. From the Economist:

“With chapter titles and headings such as “Why the KGB wants you to join Facebook” and “Why Kierkegaard Hates Slacktivism” it is clear that Mr Morozov is enjoying himself (indeed, there may be a few more bad jokes than is strictly necessary). But the resulting book is not just unfailingly readable: it is also a provocative, enlightening and welcome riposte to the cyber-utopian worldview.“